Life is busy. Rest is necessary. Balance is required.
There are certain seasons of life that bring more responsibilities, more demands, more pressure, and more activity. Our schedules can become so busy that we lose sight of what matters most. Meaningful rest is needed to find balance, to feel refreshed, and to obey Scripture. God’s design for rest is displayed in creation, through Sabbath principles, in our physiology, and in the gospel. Scripture shows there is a time to work and a time to rest. In a culture that emphasizes work, how does God’s design for rest bring a needed balance? Join us as we study God’s design for finding rest.
March 2, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#1 in series)
Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:25-30
“The needle that has been touched with the loadstone may be shaken and agitated, but it never rests until it turns north. The same is true of our heart’s affections. When we have been magnetized by the love of Christ, we can find no rest except by turning to Him. The cares and labors of the day may carry our thoughts to other objects, even as a finger may turn the needle to the east or west, but no sooner is the pressure removed than the thoughts fly to the well-beloved just as the needle moves to its place. We are unable to rest anywhere but in Jesus.” – Charles Spurgeon
Weariness stems from different sources.
What does Jesus teach us about soul rest?
Essential Understanding: Rest is __ BY Christ.
Essential Understanding: Rest is __ IN Christ.
Essential Understanding: Rest is __ THROUGH Christ.
March 9, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#2 in series)
Genesis 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
– Genesis 2:1-3
To understand God’s plan for rest in our lives, it’s imperative that we understand the beginning of rest as mentioned in Genesis 2.
There are 2 primary words for rest in Hebrew.
God rests from His __ (shabbat; Genesis 2:2-3) and then God rests His people to __ with Him (nuakh; Genesis 2:15).
Key Truth: Our __ is connected to His __ work.
God sets a pattern in creation that He repeats at key moments in the future.
Five principles of rest from the creation account:
Principle 1: Rest requires personal __.
Principle 2: Rest involves humble __.
Principle 3: Rest includes elements of __ and joy.
Principle 4: Rest is satisfied in completed __.
Principle 5: Rest is fully __ with God.
March 16, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#3 in series)
Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. – Exodus 20:8-11
Key Truth: Sabbath tells the story of rest that includes __, betrayal, redemption, __, promises, and __.
Biblical Covenants and their corresponding signs:
Response and Reflection:
Principle 1: Rest requires personal discipline.
Principle 2: Rest involves humble trust.
Principle 3: Rest includes elements of beauty and joy.
Principle 4: Rest is satisfied in completed work.
Principle 5: Rest is fully experienced with God.
Principle 6: Rest reminds us of __.
Principle 7: Rest is a __ of freedom.
Principle 8: Rest distinguishes us from the __.
Principle 9: Rest allows for __ on eternal matters.
March 23, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#4 in series)
Hebrews 4:1-11
Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.” Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
– Hebrews 4:1-11
Key Truth: Our __ rest flows from God’s __ rest.
What does this text teach us about God’s rest?
We should be __ of not entering God’s rest (v.1).
We enter God’s rest by believing the __ news preached to us (v.2-7).
By __ the good news, we enter His rest (Hebrews 4:3); by __ Christ’s teachings, His rest remains with us (Hebrews 4:10-11).
Response and Reflection:
Principle 1: Rest requires personal discipline.
Principle 2: Rest involves humble trust.
Principle 3: Rest includes elements of beauty and joy.
Principle 4: Rest is satisfied in completed work.
Principle 5: Rest is fully experienced with God.
Principle 6: Rest reminds us of redemption.
Principle 7: Rest is a declaration of freedom.
Principle 8: Rest distinguishes us from the world.
Principle 9: Rest allows for reflection on eternal matters.
Principle 10: Rest calms us when easily __.
Principle 11: Rest enables us to be __ and secure.
Principle 12: Rest is __ when we cling to sin.
March 30, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#5 in series)
Hebrews 4:1-11
Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.” Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
– Hebrews 4:1-11
Big Idea: Our complete rest flows from God’s creation rest.
Unbelief leads to sin, sin leads to restlessness, but if we trust God, rest can be restored.
What does this text teach us about God’s rest?
Response and Reflection:
Principle 1: Rest requires personal discipline.
Principle 2: Rest involves humble trust.
Principle 3: Rest includes elements of beauty and joy.
Principle 4: Rest is satisfied in completed work.
Principle 5: Rest is fully experienced with God.
Principle 6: Rest reminds us of redemption.
Principle 7: Rest is a declaration of freedom.
Principle 8: Rest distinguishes us from the world.
Principle 9: Rest allows for reflection on eternal matters.
Principle 10: Rest calms us when easily __.
Principle 11: Rest enables us to be __ and secure.
Principle 12: Rest is __ when we cling to sin.
Principle 13: Rest restores __ on three levels.
Principle 14: Rest encourages __ with God.
April 6, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#6 in series)
Hebrews 4:11
Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
– Hebrews 4:11
Key Idea: __ practice produces __ results.
What does this text teach us about applying God’s Word to experience God’s rest?
1. The __ to practice is with diligence.
“Let us be diligent…”
How do we diligently apply God’s Word to receive its benefits?
2. The __ of practice is to enter God’s rest.
“…to enter that rest…”
3. The __ of practice is don’t repeat the same mistakes.
“…so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”
Application: Pick up a copy of our four new “Rest” cards from Vine Resources. The cards are at the Connection Center in the atrium and on our website. The new resources are called…
Response and Reflection:
Principle 1: Rest requires personal discipline.
Principle 2: Rest involves humble trust.
Principle 3: Rest includes elements of beauty and joy.
Principle 4: Rest is satisfied in completed work.
Principle 5: Rest is fully experienced with God.
Principle 6: Rest reminds us of redemption.
Principle 7: Rest is a declaration of freedom.
Principle 8: Rest distinguishes us from the world.
Principle 9: Rest allows for reflection on eternal matters.
Principle 10: Rest calms us when easily annoyed.
Principle 11: Rest enables us to be settled and secure.
Principle 12: Rest is forfeited when we cling to sin.
Principle 13: Rest restores wholeness on three levels.
Principle 14: Rest encourages openness with God.
